The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-06-18

The settlement of rights relative to the
famous Backbone land grant, which was
conveyed to the New Orleans Pacific
railroad, has progressed so far that the
commissioner Of the general land office
very recently prepared appropriate in
structions to the United States land Offices
in order to carry out the provisions Of the
act of Feb 8, 1887, confirming portion
of the lands granted and FORGETTING others.
The commissioner of the general land
Office in his first draft had fixed on March
16, 1883, as the date of the definite loca-
ton of the company's route, that being
the date Of the acceptance of the con-
structed road. The commissioners regards
this as the true date, and it would have
been the one most favorable to the inter-
est Of the settlers, but upon full con-
alteration Of the law of Feb. g. 1887, the
acting secretary of the Interior, General
Muldrow, decided that q different date
must be taken. His letter is a. follows:
OEPABT0HNT OF TIE INTEBEOR,
Washington, May II.
The Commissioner Of the General Land OfBce:
SIR--I return herewith the circular of
instructions for carrying out the provis-
lens of the act entitled IAN act to declare
q forfeiture of lands granted to the New
Orleans. Ration Rouge and Vicksburg
company and to confirm titles to certain
lands and for other purposes" Said cir
cular will be approved excepting the
second paragraph on page two, declaring
that the date of definite location was
March 16, 1883. the date of the acceptance
OF the constructed road. The act spe-
officially declared the date OF definite 10
cation Of the road with reference to which
the rights of the road under the act were
to be determined, to-wit: Oct "a, 1881,
and Nov. II, 1882.
You are therefore directed to omit the
paragraph referred to and insert in lieu
Of it Instructions as to which part OF the
road was definitely located on Oct. a.,
1881, and what part on Nov. II, 1882.
Very respectfully, II. L. MuLDRow,
Acting Secretary.
The commissioner, General Sparks, has
modified his instructions agreeably to
these directions, except as to the date of
definite location. The document az now
formulated il one Of great importance to
the railroad, the settlers and all Others
whose interests are affected. It is a
follows:
DHPARTnENr OF xHE INrHRIoR,
~ Washington. june 8, l887.
Register and Reosiver, New Orleans, L.:
GUNTLE1nN-I have to call your atten-
ton to the act of Congress approved Feb.
8, 1887, (copy herewithl entitled aAn act
to declare forfeiture Of lands granted to
the New Orleans. Baton Rouge and Vicks-
burg railroad company, to confirm title to
certain lands and for other purposes"
The first section Of the act declared
forfeiture of and restores to the public
domain all lands lying east of the Missis-
sippi river which we're granted to the
New Orleans Baton Rouge and Vicks-
burg railway company by act of March 8.
1871, and also Of all those ON the west
side Of the river lying opposite and lying
with that part Of the road
which was completed on the 6th OF JAN
uary, 1881, or that portion between New
Orleans and Whitecastle.
The second section confirms TO the New
Orleans Pacific railroad company the
titles to the lands granted by said act of
March 8, 1871, and not declared forfeited
by the first section, but provides that all
Of the lands that were occupied by actual
settlers, at the date Of the definite location
Of the road and were still In their pos
session or in the possession Of their heirs
or assigns should be held and deemed
excepted from the grant and subject to
entry under the laws Of the United States.
This provision applies to the patented as
well Is to the unpatented lands
The dates of the definite locations as
by the honorable secretary Of
the Interior are Oct. IL, 1881, for the por-
lions Of the road from point in township
north, range east to point in town
ship north, range west, and from
Shreveport to point in township 10